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Rise of the Hegemon Alley aftermath
Arriving in front of my shed, bloodied and exhausted, I cast one final wary glance around to ensure no one was following me. Finding no pursuers, I pushed open the flap and swiftly stepped inside.It seemed like everyone had already fallen asleep, but that was about to change. Little Fish was the first to stir at my abrupt return."Huh? who's-..." He stop his words when he saw my current state, eyes wide open with shock, he began waking everyone up one by one.I disregard any thoughts and worries about the consequences of my actions and plainly walk forward before sitting myself in the corner which is also my sleeping spot.By now, everyone had been roused from their slumber and was beginning to gather in front of me."Carillus, what happened?""What's with the blood, Saragonian?""There's so many blood on you, are those even yours?""Are you injured or something?""We were wondering why you're so late, Carillus. The fuck happened?"Arde was the first to question me, followed by the o
Rise of the Hegemon Disposing
The instant Gulfram gave the orders, every man sprang into action without hesitation. There were no complaints, only the faint sounds of acknowledgment and slight reactions.I noticed that the miners accompanying Roslik and Gulfram swiftly exited the alleyway and returned with a horse-drawn wagon a few dozen minutes later. The wagon was complete with a driver whom I had never met before.Meanwhile, I stood on the sidelines with my back against the wall, observing their process of loading the two bodies onto the cart with utmost silence and care.Little Fish also stood beside me, and though I could sense he was attempting to offer comfort by initiating small talk, his words, however, fell on deaf ears as my mind wandered elsewhere. I didn't even hear almost half of what he said."Sorry, can you repeat?" I ask, my face flushed with embarrassment and disappointment directed to myself.Little Fish sighed, but before he could open his mouth to speak, he suddenly turned his head towards som
Rise of the Hegemon A Miracle?
Seemingly shocked by his outburst, Gulfram released his grip on me and gazed at me with eyes filled with surprise." Carillus," He sighed, "You've already became a killer, and I know you're going to be good at this job until you die." Gulfram then clasp both of his hands together before moving his gaze towards the other miners. I followed his gaze and noticed that all of them were silently observing us. Even Little Fish and Roslik appeared unusually quiet, their eyes locked onto us with unwavering focus, though I could trace a few hints of worry and pity etched on their faces. "But please," He suddenly continued, now moving his gaze back towards me, "Just don't ever... ever let this quarry take away whatever childhood you have left." After everything that has happened to me, do childhood and all that shit even matter anymore? As much as I want to let my thoughts on the matter out, I controlled myself and kept quiet instead. And just like that, we spent the rest of the time disposin
Rise of the Hegemon Prologue
I found myself mysteriously standing at the deck of a wooden ship, the sea stretched out before me, a wide expanse of unknown. I tried to remember as to why I am here, but everything seems to be so hazy and I could get no answer from it, no matter how hard I try. The sudden roaring thunder in the sky quickly caught my attention, I look up and saw the sky as it raged with storm clouds, their intense ashen hues spiraling ominously. And then, in an unexpected surge, an intense impact that struck me like a heavy blow, the wind surged with uncontrollable force, pushing down on me with an almost solid intensity, I struggled to maintain my balance against nature's unwavering embrace. The heavy rain then fell upon me, each droplet of rainwater a weighty reminder of the storm's force, I could also sense the briny tang in the air, the unmistakable taste of salt carried on the wind. Then voices, a lot of them, I turn towards the noise and I saw chaos, men frantically running around as they
Rise of the Hegemon Prologue 2
Mom's features held a striking resemblance to my own, a testament of our shared heritage, though she stood a few inches shorter than me. "Goodmorning, mother." I greeted her as I took a seat at the table. "Goodmorning Carillus." She greeted back as she places a plate before me, the aroma of eggs, bacon, and toast filled my nose as I stared down at the food before me, the eagerness to gobble up everything seems to grow inside of me. "Now now, I do not want to see my sweet Carillus choke on his own food just because he's a little hungry." I turn towards her to see her smiling, her warm eyes focused on my expression. "Am I that obvious?" I chuckled. She sighed as she took a seat at the table, a mug of coffee in her hands, though it wouldn't take long for even the dumbest people to figure out her answer based on her expression. As I began to dig into the food in front of me and savor the taste of the meal my mother had cooked, I couldn't help but feel slightly uncomfortable due to t
Rise of the Hegemon A strange place
The sounds of rustling leaves and nearby birdsong quickly filled my ears. I wildly looked around and an astounding sight met my eyes, towering trees surrounded me, their trunks wrapped in old most. The uneven ground was covered with a blanket of fallen leaves and protruding tree roots. I'm in some kind of a forest. Did that strange void drop me here? how? and why? As questions began to pop up one after another inside of my mind, I tried to recall the events that transpired as I arrived to this place, that strange feeling as I fell through the void while the world around me shift and bend as if the laws of physics doesn't exist. I began pinching myself, in hopes that I couldn't feel any pain and all of this is just a big bad dream. But the sensation of pain was undeniable; beyond that, my consciousness remained intact throughout the entire descent through the void and everything seems incredibly real. Despite my internal efforts to reject such notions, I know that deep within me
Rise of the Hegemon Escape in the forest
Gradually, as consciousness began to seep back into my senses, my head throbbed mercilessly, each throb sending waves of discomfort and agony, It was as if there was a heavy drilling operation taking place inside my head. Blinking my eyes open, everything is a blur as I slowly take in the sight of the blue sky above, I could feel the rough soil beneath my body, a clear indication that I now lay sprawled up on the ground below, leaves and dirt sticking to my skin, the air was also thick with the earthy scent of vegetation, and the distant sounds of rustling leaves and flowing water. "Argh!" I grunted in pain as a piercing pang suddenly shot through my head, causing me to wince and grit my teeth, gently placing my hand on my throbbing temple, I could feel a small bump forming beneath my palm, a sharp pain surging in my head each time my bump makes contact with my fingers. How did I..? And then my memories slowly reassembled itself, the image of the bear chasing me, my hasty and desp
Rise of the Hegemon Who are these people?
I could feel the fresh breeze brush upon my face and tug at my hair as I made my descent towards the valley, my heart rapidly beating in anticipation and excitedness.Ignoring the pain around my whole body, I continued to limp across the vast plain of green, the soft rustling of grass filling my ears as I move forward, each stride sent a rush of exhilaration through my veins.With each breath, I could sense the fragrance of the grass and wind as I propelled my way forward, mingling with the adrenaline that surged within me, the rhythmic thud of my heart matched the rhythm of my feet.As I descended further, the expanse before me gradually unfolded, revealing the widening scope of my surroundings. Before long, my line of sight expanded, finally revealing the uninterrupted stretch of the south road that leads back towards the town in the far distance.The south road eventually breaks into two paths, one that leads towards the west from my current position, and the other one towards the
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- Rise of the Hegemon
A Miracle?
Seemingly shocked by his outburst, Gulfram released his grip on me and gazed at me with eyes filled with surprise." Carillus," He sighed, "You've already became a killer, and I know you're going to be good at this job until you die." Gulfram then clasp both of his hands together before moving his gaze towards the other miners. I followed his gaze and noticed that all of them were silently observing us. Even Little Fish and Roslik appeared unusually quiet, their eyes locked onto us with unwavering focus, though I could trace a few hints of worry and pity etched on their faces. "But please," He suddenly continued, now moving his gaze back towards me, "Just don't ever... ever let this quarry take away whatever childhood you have left." After everything that has happened to me, do childhood and all that shit even matter anymore? As much as I want to let my thoughts on the matter out, I controlled myself and kept quiet instead. And just like that, we spent the rest of the time disposin
- Rise of the Hegemon
Disposing
The instant Gulfram gave the orders, every man sprang into action without hesitation. There were no complaints, only the faint sounds of acknowledgment and slight reactions.I noticed that the miners accompanying Roslik and Gulfram swiftly exited the alleyway and returned with a horse-drawn wagon a few dozen minutes later. The wagon was complete with a driver whom I had never met before.Meanwhile, I stood on the sidelines with my back against the wall, observing their process of loading the two bodies onto the cart with utmost silence and care.Little Fish also stood beside me, and though I could sense he was attempting to offer comfort by initiating small talk, his words, however, fell on deaf ears as my mind wandered elsewhere. I didn't even hear almost half of what he said."Sorry, can you repeat?" I ask, my face flushed with embarrassment and disappointment directed to myself.Little Fish sighed, but before he could open his mouth to speak, he suddenly turned his head towards som
- Rise of the Hegemon
Alley aftermath
Arriving in front of my shed, bloodied and exhausted, I cast one final wary glance around to ensure no one was following me. Finding no pursuers, I pushed open the flap and swiftly stepped inside.It seemed like everyone had already fallen asleep, but that was about to change. Little Fish was the first to stir at my abrupt return."Huh? who's-..." He stop his words when he saw my current state, eyes wide open with shock, he began waking everyone up one by one.I disregard any thoughts and worries about the consequences of my actions and plainly walk forward before sitting myself in the corner which is also my sleeping spot.By now, everyone had been roused from their slumber and was beginning to gather in front of me."Carillus, what happened?""What's with the blood, Saragonian?""There's so many blood on you, are those even yours?""Are you injured or something?""We were wondering why you're so late, Carillus. The fuck happened?"Arde was the first to question me, followed by the o
- Rise of the Hegemon
First kill
"You little shit!" The bald man screamed as he stumbled back, his hand clutching his bleeding head.By this point, rage and instincts had seized control of my body. Without warning, I launched myself at the bald man in front of me, swinging both of my hands wildly toward him simultaneously.I could hear the curly one behind the man in front of me cursing as their bodies collided, but I didn't stop there. Despite still in the process of regaining my breath, I continued my relentless attack, now switching the plank to my right hand.With the plank now in the grasp of my dominant hand, I could feel my swings becoming more accurate with each passing moment. They cut into parts of the bald man's arm as he raised it in a desperate attempt to block me. My sudden, rapid attacks were pushing him backward, inadvertently pushing the curly one behind him in the process."The fuck are you doing? it's a fucking child!" The curly one shoved the bald man aside, sending him sprawling to the ground, th
- Rise of the Hegemon
Alley struggle
Before I could even process what had happened, a large fist suddenly shot out and struck me right in the face, and then everything went black.As I opened my eyes, I surprisingly found myself standing in the midst of a grassy vast plain. However, grass were not the only thing present around me, rows upon rows of men dressed in oddly familiar blue colored uniforms and carrying what appeared to be muskets were marching past me.At that very moment, after a brief and careful inspection, I came to realize that they were American soldiers, back during the Revolutionary War.But the question is... Where the fuck am I? and how the hell did I end up in here? The first thing I sensed when I first found myself in here, were the rhythmic stomps of their boots striking the earth and the distant, continuous beats of drummers, creating a mesmerizing symphony that seemed to hang in the air. Amidst this auditory dance, commands like 'Eyes front!' bellowed by nearby sergeants added to the tapestry of
- Rise of the Hegemon
Encounter
Pulling the flap open, I carefully begin to enter the confines of a hastily assembled shack, slightly lowering my head due to how short the entrance is.As I entered, my eyes were drawn to a lone familiar miner seated with his back against the corner wall The air was heavy with the musty scent of dirt and dust, but I paid it no mind whatsoever."It's done, Erik." I said, resting my pickaxe on the wall besides me.Erik, the miner, acknowledged me with a nod, then rose from his seat and walked over to a wooden chest on his right.He stood at least a couple of inches taller than me, yet despite his slightly towering figure, he appeared incredibly slender. In his current topless state, the contours of his ribs were visible, protruding from his chest. His face had an intriguingly slightly-oblong shape, with droopy eyes and a long nose. A mop of short, tousled hair sat atop his head, and a modest stubble adorned his mouth area, suggesting he was likely in his thirties.Opening it, he began
- Rise of the Hegemon
Hope?
The moment those words escaped from Gulfram's mouth, an overwhelming wave of joy and excitement flooded over me.Tunneling?! yes, this could be it... Digging our tunnel to freedom! Why didn't I think of this earlier... but then again, it likely demands manpower, tools, and an unbelievably long amount of time. I could never excavate a tunnel all on my own. Now that I have friends in the quarry, including Gulfram himself, then maybe... tunneling our way out of this damned place might become feasible.Despite my best efforts to hide my elation, I couldn't escape Gulfram's disapproving shake of the head, a clear indicator that my true emotions had been revealed.But why is he like this?After a moment's hesitation, I mustered the courage to pose the burning question that had been gnawing at my thoughts, "You want escape?"His eyes widen slightly at my question, clearly caught off guard. 'What do you mean by wanting to escape?' he asked, his hand rising to scratch his beard in contemplati
- Rise of the Hegemon
Is escape even possible?
"So, what would you like to discuss before we begin our lessons?" Gulfram asked, taking a seat behind a table and placing his pickaxe against the wall to his left.Closing the door behind me, I then make my way towards the table before eventually sitting right in front of him."Uh yes," I finally began, rubbing my right palm on my frozen left hand for slight warmth to remove the chill that clung unto me from the outside."Did anyone.." I paused, searching for the right words in my limited Artanian vocabulary to continue my question. After a few seconds of pondering, I finally found the perfect ones, "Try escape quarry? anyone succeed?" I knew my Artanian was this bad, but I think it's enough for Gulfram to understand it's meaning.He froze, his eyes widening at the same time."Don't tell me you-" before he could finish his statement, I suddenly interrupted him."N-No no no, you think wrong." I waved my hands at him, chuckling nervously in the process, "I's just curious.. yes, curious.
- Rise of the Hegemon
Acceptance and moving forward
Months had passed, and the brisk winds of autumn were now in full swing. The days seemed noticeably shorter than before, and the air carried a crisp chill, with temperatures gradually dropping.Sighing, I turned towards my fellow miners in the group, who were arranged in a line on my left. Each of them was diligently working on their section of the wall-like rock in front of us, the relentless sound of their pickaxes hitting the rock creating a cacophony of clanks and thuds that resonated within the nearby area.Not to mention the pervasive scent of sweat that hung in the air. It was only thanks to the occasional cold breeze that wafted over us, briefly dissipating the familiar stench of sweat, before it inevitably returned once more.I withdrew my gaze and turned to look at my right hand, which was firmly gripping the handle of my pickaxe, its head resting on the ground below. The muscles in my right arm had grown significantly over the past months. Comparing it to my broken left arm
